General Fannie Masemola, National Commissioner of SAPS, has warned that any attacks on police officers will not be tolerated.
This comes in response to a recent assault on a member of the National Intervention Unit (NIU) in Mthatha, who was investigating extortion claims.
Masemola emphasised SAPS’s commitment to protecting its personnel and maintaining order in the community.
In a media briefing held on Sunday, Masemola underscored the critical role of police in safeguarding communities and stressed that any aggression towards officers would be met with resolute opposition.
"We are not going to fold our arms and allow a situation where our dedicated and hard-working police officers, who are entrusted with investigating and tracing hardened criminals, are targeted," he declared.
"We will not tolerate attacks on our men and women in blue who are doing all they can to stop extortion and other crimes. We continue to urge our members to act decisively when faced with danger."
Masemola's remarks came in the wake of increased concerns about extortion in the Eastern Cape.
Despite concerns, General Fannie Masemola acknowledged that extortion cases in Mthatha have been "under-reported." However, recent initiatives, including the introduction of an extortion hotline two weeks ago, have led to progress, with at least 38 cases reported so far.
"We are assuring communities that a dedicated team of investigators and members of specialised units are working diligently to build cases and bring those responsible to justice," Masemola stated.
"From mid-August, additional members have been deployed to bolster our efforts in combating extortion. Our approach includes intelligence gathering on suspected syndicates linked to extortion and protection fees. This has involved tracing operations, roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, and personal searches."
The National Commissioner emphasised that the SAPS is committed to sending a strong message to all criminal elements, particularly those involved in extortion.
"We are going to deal decisively with those involved in all forms of crime, especially gangs, criminals, and syndicates engaged in extortion. We will not hesitate to assert the authority of the state where necessary," Masemola vowed.
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